Fax has a long and rich history that commenced with Alexander Bain, Scottish inventor in 1846.
Moving from 1846 through to mid 1970's fax experienced three significant and distinct technology advances.
1. The first was Wire transmission
2. Second Wireless transmission
3. Third Telephone transmission
It was this advance, still with us today courtesy of the PSTN, coupled with innovation that delivered the fax machine. These highly ubiquitous devices were readily adopted by business both large and small.
4. The fourth advance in fax technology was the invention in 1985 of PC-to-fax communications by GammaLink Inc a company now acquired by Dialogic.
Not long after this RightFax was born and went on to be the dominant network fax solution for the corporate and government market.
So back to the question, what is the future of fax?
From a technology standpoint we're currently experiencing...
5. Fax over IP (FoIP), the fifth technology advance.
Around 2009 Dialogic brought to market a software fax card, which coincidentally aligned with other significant technology trends such as virtualisation of server hardware. Within the corporate market pyhsical fax servers are being replaced with virtual servers utilising the Dialogic software fax card.
Clearly capital and capability are needed to make significant changes in a technologies future direction. Those who invest in R&D will drive the future because they will innovate. Through innovation they will create customer value resulting in the next significant advancement of fax technology. Investment will be supported by organisational strategy, people and leadership. Across all attributes of the business model success will come from these elements.
OpenText has the strength of capital, capability, strategy and innovation. They are the leader now and I predict they will remain so in their market segment.
The OpenText Platinum Partner channel understands that the exchange of documents by fax is crucial in Purchase to Pay and Order to Cash processes. For Axient and OpenText customers I think the future of fax is exciting, innovative and assured.
